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      Barrier Shields: Not Just for Intubations in Today’s COVID-19 World?

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      , MD, MPH 1 ,
      Anesthesia and Analgesia
      Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

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          Abstract

          To the Editor The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to awareness of the heightened risk for the anesthesia provider. A recent joint position statement by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists recommended as optimal practice that all anesthesia professionals utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for aerosol-generating procedures for all patients. 1 However, there remains a shortage of PPE, and some institutions still limit the use of N95 respirators and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) for confirmed COVID cases. Because of this scarcity, physical barriers have been proposed as a means of protecting personnel during airway instrumentation. The first “aerosol box” was designed and shared on social media by a Taiwanese anesthesiologist, Dr Hsien-Yung Lai. 2 This transparent plastic cube was designed to allow the patient to lie at the head of the operating room table, separated from the anesthesia provider by a clear barrier, with 2circular openings at the superior end to allow the clinician’s hands to pass through and perform airway manipulation. Canelli et al 3 recently demonstrated that a simulated cough resulted in contamination of the inner surface of the box and the laryngoscopist’s gloves and gowned forearms, as opposed to pollution of the operating room environment more than 2 m away when no barrier was utilized. With current lack of widespread point-of-care testing, there remains the risk of transmission from asymptomatic carriers. 4 Moreover, during surgery, other aerosol-generating procedures might be required intraoperatively and at emergence, including the nebulization of inhaled beta-agonist, emergent reintubation, oropharyngeal suctioning, extubation of the endotracheal tube, and delivery of high-flow oxygen. These same measures are also performed during monitored anesthesia care (MAC) cases. In addition, certain types of procedures typically done under MAC, such as upper endoscopy, can cause a high incidence of coughing. Depending on the stability of the structure, intubation shields may be left at the head of the operating room table for the duration of the surgical procedure as opposed to immediately removed after successful endotracheal intubation. A small clear drape can be used to cover the ports while allowing the anesthesia provider ready access to the patient’s airway (Figure). At the end of the case, these physical barriers can be easily cleaned with spray disinfectant and/or germicidal disposable wipes. As with all novel techniques, there remains a learning curve to familiarize oneself for use in everyday practice. Finally, in certain cases, the patient’s body habitus, anatomical location of the surgery, or surgical positioning may preclude the use of the intubation shield. Figure. A clear drape covers the 2 circular openings of the intubation shield during surgery. With a limited supply of PPE, the intubation shield or other barrier devices could be a reasonable cost-effective strategy to help protect anesthesia professionals and other surgical personnel, and their usage should be considered for all cases currently being performed in the operating room. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author thanks Collectible Grading Authority (Norcross, GA) for the donation of the intubation shields. Phil B. Tsai, MD, MPH Department of Anesthesiology Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center Downey, California ptsai@dhs.lacounty.gov

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          Asymptomatic carrier state, acute respiratory disease, and pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Facts and myths

          Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (formerly known as the 2019 novel coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) in Wuhan, China in December 2019, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more than 75,000 cases have been reported in 32 countries/regions, resulting in more than 2000 deaths worldwide. Despite the fact that most COVID-19 cases and mortalities were reported in China, the WHO has declared this outbreak as the sixth public health emergency of international concern. The COVID-19 can present as an asymptomatic carrier state, acute respiratory disease, and pneumonia. Adults represent the population with the highest infection rate; however, neonates, children, and elderly patients can also be infected by SARS-CoV-2. In addition, nosocomial infection of hospitalized patients and healthcare workers, and viral transmission from asymptomatic carriers are possible. The most common finding on chest imaging among patients with pneumonia was ground-glass opacity with bilateral involvement. Severe cases are more likely to be older patients with underlying comorbidities compared to mild cases. Indeed, age and disease severity may be correlated with the outcomes of COVID-19. To date, effective treatment is lacking; however, clinical trials investigating the efficacy of several agents, including remdesivir and chloroquine, are underway in China. Currently, effective infection control intervention is the only way to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
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            Taiwanese Doctor Invents Device to Protect US Doctors Against Coronaviruse

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              Barrier

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Anesth Analg
                Anesth. Analg
                ANE
                Anesthesia and Analgesia
                Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
                0003-2999
                1526-7598
                27 April 2020
                23 April 2020
                : 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004902
                Affiliations
                [1]Department of Anesthesiology, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, California, ptsai@ 123456dhs.lacounty.gov
                Article
                00004
                10.1213/ANE.0000000000004902
                7188026
                32324597
                44bbb323-8d4d-4923-bce3-ffbd49446ed2
                Copyright © 2020 International Anesthesia Research Society

                This article is made available via the PMC Open Access Subset for unrestricted re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or until permissions are revoked in writing. Upon expiration of these permissions, PMC is granted a perpetual license to make this article available via PMC and Europe PMC, consistent with existing copyright protections.

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                Letter to the Editor

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